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Best Recipes and Planning Tips for Your Tailgate Party

Tailgating is a great excuse to get together with friends, gear up for the big game and enjoy some delicious food. But it can wreak havoc on your waistline. Popular menu items typically include beer, beer and more beer, fried chicken, hot dogs, a variety of chips and creamy dips. If you want all the fun of tailgating but don’t want to be forced to buy new clothes after football season ends, we have some recipes for you! Don’t forget to have your wheat germ handy to add nutrition to your game day munchies.

The perfect dish to wrap up and serve to fellow tailgaters, fried chicken may seem like the ideal main course for your game day meal — until you start counting calories. Our alternative, Kretschmer Wheat Germ Oven-Fried Chicken, will satisfy even the pickiest fried chicken connoisseurs while slashing fat, calories and sodium.

Rather than using full-fat sour cream for your creamy dips, try nonfat plain Greek yogurt; mix in a couple tablespoons of Kretschmer Wheat Germ for extra nutrition. Make your own baked tortilla chips for even healthier dipping: Cut corn tortillas into six wedges, place on a jelly roll pan (don’t overlap) and lightly coat with cooking spray. Season with a mixture of salt, cumin and chili powder and bake in a 350° F oven for about 10 minutes. Other good ideas for nutritious munching: hummus and veggies and fresh fruit.

Slim down your alcoholic drinks by adding seltzer and lots of fruit to a large batch of sangria. Also keep plenty of water on hand to stay hydrated for a long day outdoors.

Beyond menu planning, it’s important to get organized several days ahead of the event. Create a detailed list of everything you’ll need, starting with basic supplies such as folding table, tablecloth, plates, bowls, napkins, cutlery, cups, coolers and chairs and blankets for seating. If you plan to tailgate at several games, create a menu for the season to cut down on time spent each week trying to figure out what to bring.

Make sure to delegate items on the list, and not just the food. If you meet up with the same people every week, decide who should bring what each weekend or come up with a rotation. If you’re planning a tailgate party with a new group, make sure to respond when people ask, “What can I bring?”